Spring-operated fan



Feb. 14, 1928.

D. A. LEE

SPRING OPERATED FAN Filed June 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Sig. g

attouwq Feb. 14, 1928. D. A. LEE

SPRING OPERATED FAN Filed June 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIII F /(l A Lee,

gwuentoa WWW Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

- UNITED? STATES we aim or ALBERTA, LOUISIANA- srnmesornanmnn FAN.

Application filed June 21,

This inventionrelates to certain new and useful improvements in 13.118, and has more particular reference to a fan having spring motor operatingmeans.

The primary object of theinvention is to provide a springoperated fan which is ex tremely simple and durable in construction as well as eflicientin operation.

A further object is to provide a fan including a casing having a spring motor mounted therein for swinging back and forth, and means operatively connecting a driven-shaft of themotor with the casing of the fan whereby the motor is bodily os'cillated or swung back and forth when thefan is in operation, for obtaining the advantages of an oscillating fan.

A still further object is to provide a fan including a sprin motor having a driven shaft u on which an blades are fixed, a casing wit in which themotor is mounted for oscillation in a lateralfldirection, and means to automatically cause such movement of the motor upon operation of the fan wherebythe latter is caused to oscillate in an arcuate path.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more full described, shown in the accompanyin r rawings. and claimed.

In t e drawings,wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly broken away andin section of a spring operated fan constructedin accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2, is a vertical sectional, view thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially upon line 3--3 of Figure 2. j

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially upon line H of Figure 2' and Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical detail section taken through one of themotor frame platesand associated parts.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

the form of the invention illustrated embed ies an elongated upright motor frame composed of vertical front and" rear frame plates 5 and 6, respectively, rigidly connected in spaced parallel relation by means of a pluthereb 1926. Serial No. 117,506.

rality of horizontal. connecting rods 7 havingi spacing sleeves 8 disposed thereon. The 10 frame plates 5 andti and contact the latter at their ends whereby said frame plates are maintained against movement toward each other and in engagement with the heads 9 of therods 7.

The spring motor furthcrincludes a horizontal power or winding shaft 11' extending between and having its ends journaled in horizontally aligned openings in the lower portions ofthe frame plates 5 and 6, and this shaft 11 has a projecting rear end por tion 12; of polygonal form for enga ement by a winding key as will presently eoome apparent. A coiled spring 13 is disposed about the forward portion of theshaft 11 between the frame plates and has its inner end attached to said shaft 11 in any suitable manner, the outer end of the spring 13b9 ing suitably anchored to the lowermost sleeve 7 8. Freely rotatable upon the shaft 11 behind the spring 13 is a relatively large gear 15 having a spring pressed pawl 16 pivoted toone side thereof, and fixed on the shaft 11 at the rear side of the ear 15 is a ratchet wheel 17, the teeth of which arenormally,

igure t. It will thus be seen that when engaged by said pawl 16 as shown clearly in a suitable winding key 18 is engaged with the polygonal portion 12 of the shaft 11 and the gear 15 held from rotation, the shaft 11 may be. rotated for winding the sprin 13 and 6 for-preventing separation of s? extend between the plates 5 and 6 wind thus rotating the shaft '11 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front,

same irection. By reason of the fact that the pawl 16 engagesthe ratchet wheel 17 the gear 15 will be driven in a counterclockwise direction for operating the fan proper 19, in a manner which will presently become apparent.

turning the ratchet wheel 17 in the The fan 19 is of the usual type embodying a plurality of radial twisted blades carried by a hub, and the hub of this fan is fixed upon the forwardly projecting end portion of a horizontal shaft 20 which extends between and is journaled in the frame plates 5 and 6 some distance above the shaft 11. The fan shaft 20 is operatively connected to the motor shaft 11 through a suitable train of gearing whereby the fan 19, as viewed in front elevation, will be driven in a clockwise direction. This train of gearing consists of a pair of counter-shafts 22 journaled in the frame plates 5 and 6 in horizontal spaced relation between the shafts 11 and 20, the lower one of the shafts 22 being provided with a pinion 23 meshing with the gear 15, and a relatively larger gear 24 meshing with another pinion 21 carried by the upper one of the shafts 22. I The upper shaft 22 in turn carries a large gear 2& meshing with a pinion 25 fixed upon the fan shaft 20.

Obviously, any suitable form of manually releasable stop may be provided for restraining the gear 15 from rotation during the winding operation or when the fan is not required for use, such stop means being engaged in any desired one of the rotatable parts in the operative connection between the power shaft 11 and the fan shaft 20.

The spring motor is arranged within a relatively wide box-like casing 26 having an opening in the rear wall thereof as shown in Figure 2 for permitting insertion of the key 18 for engagement with the squared end portion 12 of the shaft 11, and the shaft 20 projects forwardly through a slot 27 in the front wall of the casing 26 so that the fan element 19 is disposed exteriorly of and in front of the casing as shown. The lower end of the motor frame is pivoted upon a horizontal axis so that the motor is capable of oscillating laterally relative to the casing;

The pivotal mounting of the motor in this manner may be accomplished in any desired way, and as shown, the lowermost sleeve 8 of the motor frame is rotatably disposed in a bearing provided in the upper end of a post 28 arranged within the bottom of the casing 26 and rigid with and projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of said casing. The lateral oscillation of the motor is permitted by reason of the fact that the slot 27 is of arcuate form and concentric with the pivot of the motor frame in the bearing of post 28. In order to automatically effect the lateral oscillation of the motor and the fan element, I provide an operating connection between one of the shafts 22 of the motor and the casing 26. As shown, this operating connection consistsin the provision of a crank 29 upon the rear end of the lower counter-shaft 22, and a link 30 having one end pivotally connected to the outer end of the crank 29 and its other end pivotally attached to the rear wall of the casing 26 as indicated at 31, the point of connection 31 being to one side of the lower shaft 22 as clearly shown in Figure 1.

Inoperation, the motor is suitably released after winding of the spring 13 so as stationary. In this way the fan element '19 will be caused to supply a draught of air over a considerable area as is well known generally with respect to fans of the oscillat- 7 ing type.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

WVhat'I claim as new is 1. A fan of the character described comprising a casing, a motor mounted 1n the casing for lateral oscillation relative to the latter, said motor having a driven shaft proj ecting through a slotin the front of the casing for permitting the motor to so oscillate, a fan element fixed upon the projecting end of said driven shaft, and means operatively connecting a movable element of the motor with the casing for automatically causing oscillation of the motor upon operation of the latter for rotating said fan element.

2. A fan of the character described including a spring motor, a casing within which said motor is arranged, said motor being mounted at its lower end in the casing for lateral oscillation and having a rotatable driven shaft, and means operatively connecting said driven shaft with the casing for causing lateral oscillation of the motor upon operation of said shaft.

3. A fan of the character described including a spring motor, a casing within which said motor is arranged, said motor being pivoted at its lower end in the bottom of the casing for lateral oscillation and having a rotatable driven shaft, and means operatively connecting said driven shaft with the casing for causing lateral oscillation of the motor upon operation of said shaft, a fan operatively connected to the motor for rotation by the latter and positioned eXteriorly of the casing, the operating connection belation, the motor including a driven shaft, a fan operated by the motor, and means oper- 10 atively connecting the driven shaft with the support for effecting lateral oscillation of the motor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DAVID A. LEE. 

